Packing expander for pistons, etc.



i cause the packing Patented Oct. 12, 1926.`

UNITED STATES JOSEPH PIEPER, OFWEST POINT, IOWA.

PACKING EXPANDER FOR PISTNS, VETC.

Application filed october 1o, 1925.

vrlhis invention relates generally to improvenients in pistons or buckets, and has particular reference to means for expanding the packing mounted thereon.

An important object of the invention is to provide means on a piston for expanding the packing member carried thereby so as to to be pressed firmly against the cylinder walls.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for expanding the piston packing, designed so asto be litted upon the conventional type of pistons and buckets now i'n use. f

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a packing expander of a simple yet durable nature and formed so as to permit comparatively long usage.

Other objects and advantages of this iniention will become apparent asthe description progresses.

ln the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specilication and in which like numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a cylinder showing a valved piston embodying my invention in an elevational view partially broken away tov show the` interior construction, and

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1. y

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred em'- bodimentl of my invention, the numeral 5 generally designates a conventional type of cylinder such as is customarily employed in water and oil wells. As is well known, these cylinders are usually in the form yof comparatively long pipe sections connected together and extending to comparatively great depths into the ground. The water or oil elevated from the bottom of the tubing, in the present instance, through the instrumentality of a valved piston or bucket generally indicated at 6.

The piston is composed of two sections, an upper body section 7 composed of a circular ring 8 internally screw threaded and a bonnet 9. This bonnet is formed with a central circular disk provided at its center with an internally screw threaded opening for connection of the piston rod 10, this central disk being connected with 'the annular ring 8 by a plurality, in the present instance, four angular ribs 11.

efficiency of the piston is impaired.

Serial No. 61,801.

Threadedly engageable with this body sectionis a lower section 12 embodying a tubularsleeve 13 provided on its lower edge with an outwardly directed horizontal flange 14. The sleeve 13 is externally screw threaded so as to engage the threads formed on the interior of the ring 8 for connection of these sections. As is readily apparent, from Figure 1, a packing ring 15 is mounted between the lange 14 of the bottom section andthe ring 8 of the upper section, this packing ring being of angular formation so as to provide a horizontal portion engageable by the piston sections and a vertical cylindrical portion adapted to snugly contact with the interior walls of the cylinder or tubing.

InV the present type of piston or bucket, the passage of matter through vthe piston is controlled by a vertically operable valve 16 embodying a circular top plate or disk l? adapted to be properly litted upon the upper edge of the sleeve 13, the central portion of the said circular plate or disk carrying a downwardly depending stem 18 so as to preventdisplacement of the valve.

As will be understood by those familia-r with this art, the packing member 15 constructed of leather or similar pliable material becomes worn in a comparatively short time and continuous use of the piston weakens the contact of the packing ring with the side walls of theV tubing so that the My invention relates particularly to means for overcoming the tendency of the packing ring to work away from the walls of the tubing .and thus prevent leakage of the matter between the packing and the walls.

' I accomplish this by the provision of a spring steel band 20 coiled about the piston body ring 8 between this ring and the outer packing ring, this spring being preferably formed in a double coil and arranged so as to normally expand, thus forcing the hori- Zontal ring of the packing tightly against the cylindricalwalls. ln order to prevent longitudinal displacement of the spring 20 and at the same time permit lateral expansion, I versely extending pins 21, one such pin being inserted in each of the piston body ribs 11 and projecting substantially outward. The outward projections of these pins will prevent spring 20 and thus retain this member in provide a plurality of trans- 11o upward movement of the position. It is thus appa-rent, that although the outer horizontal ring ot the packing member will become worn by continuous movement ot the piston through the tubing the packing ring will retain itsl `light litting qualities by the provision ot the resilient spring iember 20, as this spring will at all times exert a pressure u pon the pack-ing ring and tend to expand this member. '.llhis structure will materially prolong the lite oit the packing ring and in this manner create a substantial saving, and in addition thereto will cause the pisten cr bucket to operate etliciently until the packing has entirely worn out.

.lt is to be understood that the form ot my invention herewith shown and described is susceptible of mcdilication, and that various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement ot parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ot the invention or the scope ot the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, l claim;

l. In combination with a pump piston including a cylindrical body member provided with upwardly directed extensions, an interior sleeve threadedly connected with the annular body member having an outwardly directed annular flange on its lower edge, and a packing ring olE angular cross section clamped between the lower edge ot the annular body member and the sleeve llange; packing expanding means including a resilient normally expanded band disposed between the cylinder engaging portion ot the packing ring and the exterior surface ot the annular body member so as toV maintain the packing pressed lirmly against the cylinder' walls, and a plurality of pins associated with the upper extending portions oit the annular body member having the outer ends projecting laterally to engage the upper edge oit the resilient band to retain the same in proper position.

2. ln combination with a pump piston including a circular body member having upwardly directed extensions on its upper edge provided with transverse bores therethrough, an interior sleeve threadedly connected with the circular body member having an outwardly directed flange formed on its lower edge and disposed below the circular body member, and a packing ring ot angular cross Section having its horizontal portion iirmly clamped between the lower edge oit the circular body member and the sleeve i'lange and its outer portion in contacting position against the cylinder walls; packing expanding means including a resilient exi'iansible band disposed between the cylinder r(.ontactmg portion olf the packing ring and the outer periphery oi the circular body member tending to normally press the packing lirmly against the cylinder walls, and a plurality ot pins removably mounted in the transverse bores formed in the circular body projections having their outer extremities projecting outwardly to engage the upper edge ot the band to prevent displacement thereof.

3. Means Afor expanding the packing of a piston into engagement with the wall ot a cylinder, wherein the piston includes a cylindrical body member and an annular sleeve threadedly connected with the interior of the body member having an outwardly directed annular flange Yformed at its lower edge so as to clamp nthe inwardlv directed flange ot the packing between the lower edge of the body member and the inner upper 'face of the sleeve flange, comprising a normally expanded resilient band adapted to be disposed between the cylinder wall engaging portion ot the packing and the outer periphery ot the cylindrical body member so as to automatically maintain the packing ring in proper `engagement with the cylinder wall, and pins adapted to be rigidly associated with the upper end oli' the body member so as to projectoutwardly across the upper edge of the band and retain the latter rin place.

In testimony whereof l allix my signature.

JOSEPH PIEPER. 

